DH insists on fabric softener sheets - Page 2

[GenB]

Oh yeah....you can mix a bit of fabric softener with water in a spray bottle and use it, too. Seventh Generation makes a lovely lavender scented one.

[moonmama22]

We use the Method dryer sheets as well.
But, on the topic of laundry - I am using the Purex, Natural (something like that - it's in the green bottle?) I don't know if that is as good as some other ones, but it is fairly inexpensive. Any other ideas?? Some of the others are so expensive!

[sunnysandiegan]

I use plain white vinegar in the fabric softener section of my washer to control static, when needed. However, I have found the two best ways to reduce static are:

1) Limit the number of non-natural fiber clothing per load, and
2) Lower the heat setting of the dryer and/or reduce the time.

[star*mora]

i do two things when i use the dryer to dry a load of laundry

soak a baby wash cloth and rub baking soda into it and a few drops of essential oils

then for the static - i take aluminum foil and make it into a small ball and toss it in. reusable and gets rid of static.

[spiderdust]

I'd think that dryer sheets would reduce the absorbancy of towels about as much as liquid fabric softener would.

I've heard that a crumbled up piece of aluminum foil in the dryer can reduce static, but I haven't tried it myself.

[tbone_kneegrabber]

I use the sun and earth ones. They biodegrade in 21 days. They smell nice, but not strong, and reduce static. If you can't find them locally
http://www.sunandearth.com/allproduc...age.aspx?Cid=5

[GenB]

Originally Posted by moonmama22

We use the Method dryer sheets as well.
But, on the topic of laundry - I am using the Purex, Natural (something like that - it's in the green bottle?) I don't know if that is as good as some other ones, but it is fairly inexpensive. Any other ideas?? Some of the others are so expensive!

Purex and Arm and Hammer Essentials each, for what you get, are fairly pricey. Purex, moreso. I use both detergents but strrrreeeeetttttccchhh them by mixing a couple of cups of liquid detergent (Purex or A&H) with a cup of borax and a cup of washing soda that has been dissolved in hot water, some more water to fill up the jug and maybe a tbs. of my leftover soap flakes that I keep from old bars of soap. I mix it all in a bucket and pour boiling water over to dissolve really well. I get a lot more washes out of a bottle that way.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by the2amigos

I've been trying to go without fabric sheets for the environmental/chemical aspect. I've tried vinegar. I use Charlies soap now for all our wash.

But the static is KILLING ME! At night you can literally see sparks when you move, not cool, very annoying. My work dress pants cling to me, which is not a good look when you have an extra 40+ pounds on you!

I'd love to find an answer, other than $$$$$ "natural" dryer sheets. I love the idea of EO for scent, but what about the static???

If you have that much static, then you're probably "over drying" your clothes.

Try putting the dryer on a lower setting.

I don't have 100% cotton everything in my house, but I generally hang dry anything that's acrylic or polyester, and a lot of the blends, so that it's mostly cotton stuff in the dryer and it just doesn't create that much static.

If your work pants are a problem, I'd suggest hanging them to dry instead of putting them in the dryer.

[Meiri]

Shaklee sells chemical-free environmentally friendly dryer sheets, as well as detergent and anything else you would use to clean your home!

Given that everything is a chemical at some level, that's not even possible. Water is known as the "universal solvent" among chemists.

None the less: I only use unscented dryer sheets in winter when static is an issue. We get tired of being shocked and the laundry items sticking to each other, even when not overdried. In other seasons, it's not a problem.

Can you wean him off the scents? Around here it's never been an issue because they don't miss what they've never had. Maybe given time, he can get used to "clean" being the scent of choice.

Now that I've finally used up the dryer sheets, I've got to try that foil idea to see if it really works. No more paying for stuff that can build up on our clothes if the experiment works for us.